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The 2006 season will be Dan Fidler's sixth as safeties coach at Arizona State. Fidler, who is a 1981 graduate of ASU, also assumed the position of recruiting coordinator in March, 2006.
In 2005, strong safety Zach Catanese became the fourth Fidler-coached player in as many seasons to earn all-conference accolades. After a season in which he finished second on the team with 107 tackles, Catanese, who transferred from Shasta College prior to the 2005 season, earned Pac-10 Honorable Mention honors. Catanese's 8.9 tackles per game last season are the most of any Pac-10 player returning in 2006.
Two years ago, Riccardo Stewart earned first-team all-conference accolades under Fidler's tutelage after recording 48 solo tackles - the second-highest mark on the team - and four pass breakups in just nine games. Under Fidler's guidance, senior Emmanuel Franklin also recorded a career- and team-high four interceptions in 2004 and tied for the team lead with seven PBUs.
In the two years previous to that, Fidler coached both Jason Shivers and Stewart to All-Pac-10 honors with the duo earning second-team accolades in 2003 and honorable mention in 2002.
In 2003, Shivers, who was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, became the first Sun Devil in school history to lead the team in tackles three times. He finished second in the Pac-10 with 9.5 tackles per game in 2003, while Stewart was second on the team and seventh in the conference at 7.6 tackles per game.
Stewart was the third-leading tackler on the 2002 squad with 83 stops, while Shivers tied for the most tackles in the Pac-10 and ranked fifth in the league with 8.6 tackles per game. In Fidler's first year at ASU, Shivers was named a 2001 Sporting News Freshman All-American and was the first freshman in school history to lead the team in tackles.
Prior to his arrival at ASU, Fidler joined the Boise State Broncos as the outside linebackers coach, but when Dirk Koetter took over in 1998, Fidler changed to safeties and defensive backs coach.
Fidler helped Boise State improve in every Big West Conference defensive category in each of his four seasons. His 2000 squad was second in the conference in passing efficiency defense, allowing only 118 yards per game. As a sophomore, defensive back Quintin Mikell led the Big West in total tackles (118) and was named Big West Defensive Player of the Year, while senior strong safety Shaunard Harris led the conference in sacks with seven.
Prior to his appointment at Boise State, Fidler was the associate head coach at Villanova (1987-96) and graduate assistant (defensive backs) at Penn State (1985-86) under Joe Paterno where the Nittany Lions won the 1987 National Championship after defeating Miami in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe. Fidler was also defensive coordinator at St. Cloud State (Minn.) from 1983-84 and a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State under Jimmy Johnson in 1982.
Fidler began his coaching career in the Valley of the Sun as the offensive line coach at Mesa Community College in 1981. He was a four-year starter in college as an offensive guard, earning All-American honors at Mesa Community College. He also earned All-East accolades at the University of Pittsburgh.
Fidler has been involved in nine bowl games, two as a player and seven as a coach.
After obtaining his degree at Arizona State, he later earned his master's degree from St. Cloud State.
He and his wife, Kim, have a daughter, Kaycie (5), and a son, Dane (2).
THE FIDLER FILE
Born: July of 1958 in Harrisburg, Pa.
High School Education: Scottsdale High School, Scottsdale, Ariz.
College Education: Arizona State University, 1981; St. Cloud State 1984.
College Football: Mesa Community College, 1976-77;
University of Pittsburgh, 1978-79
Coaching Career: Mesa Community College, 1981; Oklahoma State, 1982; St. Cloud State, 1983-84; Penn State, 1985-86; Villanova University, 1987-96; Boise State, 1997-2000; Arizona State 2000-present.
Recruiting Area: Ventura County, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Southern Arizona, Colorado and Utah.
Family: Wife, Kim, daughter, Kaycie (5), and son, Dane (2).
NFL Players Coached
| Name | School | Team |
| Jason Shivers | Arizona State | St. Louis Rams |
| Shaunard Harts | Boise State | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Quintin Mikell | Boise State | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Leaf Palmer | St. Cloud State | New England Patriots |
| Mike Lambricht | St. Cloud State | Miami Dolphins |
